Over the next 15 days I'm going to participate in the "15 Habits of Great Writers" lessons that Jeff Goins is hosting on his blog. (Click my awesome badge if you'd like to join) Hopefully there will be a daily update on this blog; if there's not, tweet me and hold me accountable, please.

Today's assignment is to declare yourself a writer. The problem is, I'm other things too. I'm a teacher, a husband, a friend, a sports enthusiast, a gamer, a dog trainer, a cat trainer when I'm ambitious, a reader, a runner, and about a million other things. Writing has never topped my list.

I've always found reasons to avoid my blog, or writing that short story that I'm perpetually working through in my head. Sometimes I'm busy, usually I'm lazy, but I can always find a reason to not write. Not much of a writer, am I?

Goins claims that declaring yourself as a writer provides the confidence to pick up a pen, or in my case, a laptop. Ask any of my students, and they'll agree, writing is a mental hurdle. It opens you up to criticism, and eternalizes all of our flaws and melling spistakes. This is why he's write: you have to be okay with these things, to accept them, learn to edit, and grow as a writer and person.

One of the most heartbreaking thing I see as an English teacher is when I hand back essays. When a student looks at a mark, crumples it up, and throws it away. You know all that writing teachers give you in the margins? Some of it is criticism, some praise, and mostly corrections. When you accept this criticism, you'll become a better writer. You don't have to blindly conform to every suggestion either, but consider why it's being suggested and articulate your own justification if you disagree.

Also, since this is a 2 week campaign, feel free to provide feedback and comment on my writing. I'll gladly take formative feedback too ;)